Friction-clutch.



K. MATTHIASE FRIGTION GLUT GH.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 6, 1909.

Patented may 17, mm.

.a TED STATES PATENT oTTicn.

KARL MATTHIAS, 0F DESSAU, GERMANY.

FRICTION -CLUTCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, KARL MATTHIAs, en-

gineer, and a resident of the city of Dessau, Germany, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Friction-Clutches, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to elastic clawcouplings of the type in whichelastic members are inserted between the claws, which are preferablyradially directed.

The object of the invention is to render such an elastic couplingcapable of being readily thrown into and out of engagement, that is tosay, capable of acting as a clutch. This is attained by forming the oneset of claws rigid with the one clutch half, and by providing the otherset upon a ring or the like loosely mounted on this clutch-half andcapable of being forced into driving engagement with the otherclutch-half, the elastic members being arranged between the fixed andthe movable claws.

The accompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, one form ofclutch accord ing to the invention, Figure 1 being a cross section andFig. 2 a half front elevation with the upper fore part removed.

In carrying out my invention the clutch half a is formed with a hollowconical friction surface and is preferably composed of two parts boltedor otherwise secured together. The other clutch half Z) is formed withfixed claws b or the like. Two rings are slidably mounted around themember I) and are formed with claws c, c or the like and elastic fillingpieces (Z are placed between the claws b and c. The elastic fillingpieces (Z allow the two clutch halves to yield tangentially and axiallyrelative to one another. In order to enable them to yield alsoperpendicularly relative to one another the rings 0, 0 are so arrangedthat a free space or play 8 is formed between the inner ends of theirclaws c, 0 and the clutch half Z). By employing closed rings 0, c thedefects due to centrifugal action are avoided. The peripheries of thetwo rings 0, c conform to the conical surface on the clutch-half a, andwhen the clutch is to be engaged the rings 0 c are forced axiallyagainst the frictionsurface of the clutch-half a by any suitablemechanism, such as a sliding sleeve f with l Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed October 6, 1909.

Patented May 1L7, 1910. Serial No. 521,410.

toggle-levers e. In this manner the two shafts upon which the members aand b are mounted are coupled together, while thorough elasticity isinsured by means of the elastic members (Z.

The clutch above described may be applied to any of the usual purposes;for instance, it can be used for coupling loose pulleys and wheels witha shaft, as well as for coupling two shafts together.

Having thus described my invention, I declare that what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. a friction crutch,comprising two clutch halves, a pair of closed rings between the same,elastic means between said rings and one of said clutch halves, saidring and elastic means rendering the clutch halves capable of yieldingtangentially, axially and perpendicularly relative to one another, andmechanism for bringing the said rings into and out of frictionalengagement with the other clutch half.

2. A friction clutch, comprising two clutch-halves one of which isreceived by the other and presents peripheral claws, a pair of closedrings encompassing the said clawed clutch-half and having clawsintermeshing with those of the latter, elastic members filling thespaces between the claws, and means for bringing the said rings into andout of frictional engagement with the outer clutch-half, substantiallyas described.

3. A friction clutch, comprising two clutch-halves, an outer onepresenting a conical friction-surface and an inner one presentingperipheral claws; a pair of closed rings which encompass the innerclutch-half, and which present claws intermeshing with those of thelatter, and whose peripheries together constitute a double conicalfrictionsurface; elastic members filling the spaces between the claws;and means for bringing the said rings into and out of frictionalengagement with the outer clutch-half; substantially as described.

Signed at Berlin, this 25 day of September, 1909.

KARL MATTHIAS. l/Vitnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HANS HEIMAN.

